Implementing weblogs in technical communication classroom.

PJP/2006/PPA {1)-S262

IMPLEMENTING WEBLOGS IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
CLASSROOM

ZANARIAH JANO
RESEARCH VOTE NO:
PJP/2006/PPA {1)-5262

PUSAT BAHASA DAN PEMBANGUNAN INSAN
UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

2008

ABSTRACT
Hitherto the blogging phenomenon has become the most popular medium of
communication among the youth. Thus, it is essential to discover how these weblogs can
be implemented in the classroom environment and study the students' perception towards
the approach. This research is an action based in nature whereby the researcher has
implemented the weblogs in the classroom. The group was given exposure to the
weblogs. They blogged their entry every week pertaining to the topic taught. A

questionnaire was given to each student and several interview sessions were conducted to
explore the students' perception of this blogging phenomenon. A Content analysis was
conducted to analyze the students' blogs .In short, the intent of this project was to look
into the implementations of weblogs in a language classroom in order to explore the
pattern of usage pertaining to selection of topics or areas, frequency of entry, monitoring
system, virtual and face to face interaction, to discover the advantages and disadvantages
perceived by the students and also to ascertain the role of weblogs in enhancing students'
reflections on what being taught in class. The findings revealed that weblogs act as
intermediary tool to improve literacy level through online communication and an access
to experience creative and free expression through writing. Moreover, it is also noted that
weblogs allow students to engage actively in writing that improve motivation for learning
without much pressure and anxiety. The application of weblogs in English language
learning environments facilitates, encourages and creates a conducive environment for
the students' acquisition of language.

(Keywords : implement, weblogs, entry , student, perception)

Acknowledgements
I owe a debt of thanks to those whose time, concern and efforts were given during the
process of producing this research. Thus, my heartfelt gratitude is extended to the UNIC

which has granted the fund for this study. A special note of thanks is also due to the
Dean, Professor Dr. Hj. Mohd Taib Dora and the Deputy Dean, Dr Izaidin Majid, for
giving me the opportunities to venture into this IT based research.
In addition, my appreciation goes to my students who have given full participation in
making this blog project a success and in allowing their blogs to be reprinted. Special
thanks to the Director of the Computer Centre, Encik Isa Mohd Dom and his staff Ms.
Rafidah Kassim for their commitment and cooperation in making the class blogs a reality.
Finally, thanks to an understanding family who has offered encouragement and support
throughout this project- Sharadzi, Jariah, Harris, Adrian, Haiqal & Naufal (the twin) and
baby Shamel.

ii

Table of Content
Abstract
Acknowledgement
Taole of Content
List of Figures

11


lll

iv

1. Introduction

1

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

3

Literature Review
Research Method
Results & Discussion

Implication
Conclusion & Recommendation

4
8
16
17

References
Appendix- Students' blogs

18
20

iii

LIST OF FIGURES

1.
2.

3.
4.

9
10
11

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

12

iv

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A ''blog" or "Weblog" is a Web page containing brief, chronologically arranged items of
information. Weblogs take a variety of forms - a diary, a series of book review, news service,

reports of activity on a project, the journal of an expedition, a photographic record of a
project, or any one of a number of other forms. What blogs have in common is that they
consist of brief entries arranged in reverse chronological order that are updated frequently and
regularly.

Weblogs (or blogs) are becoming a "new form of mainstream personal communication"
(Rosenbloom,

2004,

p.

31)

for

millions

of people


to

publish

and

exchange

knowledge/information, and to establish networks or build relationships in the world of all

blogs, the so-called ''blogosphere". Weblog-building technologies (or blogging tools) bring
new capabilities, such as web publication and communication, to average people, especially
those non-technical users. They are designed to facilitate simple and fast creation of web
content without much technical or programming skill. Recent releases of blogging tools have
been further improved to provide enhanced features for between-blog interactivity; thus
promoting the creation of social networks among bloggers. As an innovative social computing
technology that enables web based word-of-month (through blogging activities), weblog was
recently identified as among the top "10 tech trends to watch in 2005" by Fortune magazine
(Vogelstein et al., 2005, p. 43).


Hitherto the blogging phenomenon has become the most popular medium of communication.
Weblog popularity has surged over the last few years, resulting in 6

million

(www.technorati.com) active blogs worldwide by the end of 2004. According to Sifry (2004),
founder and CEO of Technorati which is well-recognized for its blog tracking/ranking
service, over 12,000 new weblogs are created daily and an average of at least 4.6 weblogs are
being updated every second. In a telephone survey of American Internet users, Pew Internet &
American Life Project reported an increase of 58% weblog readership from February to
November 2004, and reached 32 million readers (27% of the American online users)
(BusinessWeek online, 2005). Because of its popularity, it is essential to discover how these
weblogs can be implemented in the classroom environment and study the youth 's perception
towards the approach.

1

This research is an action based in nature whereby the researcher implemented the weblogs in
the classroom. The group was given exposure to the weblogs. They blogged their entry every
week pertaining to the topic taught. Interview sessions were conducted to explore the

students' perception of this blogging phenomenon. A Content Analysis method was
employed: The blogs were compiled and the content was analyzed.

1.1 Statements of Problems

The incorporation of technology in language teaching does not take into account the
effective pedagogical approach. According to Schwienhorst (1997), "most of the
current notions about the internet and multimedia in the context of language learning
often lack the pedagogical background to make them useful in the context of second
language learning' ' . This statement, thus, is the departure point for this study.
1.2 Research Aims

The study is significant because it employs weblogs in a classroom environment and
seek to discover student' perception of them. The outcome of the research should be
the base for instructors of higher learning institutions to design a module that inculcate
weblogs so as to prepare the graduates for the demand and needs of the present
information society.

1.3 Research Objectives


The objectives of the study are:


To implement weblogs in a classroom



To determine students' perception ofweblogs



To discover the advantages and disadvantages of using weblogs.



To enhance students' reflection of what being taught.



To develop creative and free expression through writing.


2

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
Some people feel that the information in the blogs are 'only at our finger tips' as George
Packer (2004) says that he enjoys the immediacy of Weblogs. However, he argues that they
are written by "very bright young men who never leave their rooms". Furthermore, he states
that 'they remain private, written only for selective audience who speaks the same language,
' written in the language and tone ofknowingness, insider shorthand, instant mastery' (Packer,
2004). However, there are many number of Weblogs written to inform the general public; the
great Arts & Letters Daily (n.d.) and the Weblogs created by the press like The Guardian
newspaper in the UK (Guardian Unlimited, n.d.) are examples.
The challenge in education, especially, in language learning is to use Information and
Communication tools to pave ways in achieving maximum benefits using minimum resources
while teaching language learners for specific purposes. The role of computer technology, thus,
becomes essential in inculcating new and innovative ways to deliver subject matter and
training opportunities. Computer technology helps to move beyond the information age of
knowledge sharing in language learning to a more holistic approach in an integrated virtual
learning environment involving human to computer interactivity and human to human
interaction (Schwienhorst, 1997)
Meanwhile internet technology is expected to offer more opportunities for learner-control and
learner-centred rather than instructor based language learning environment besides increasing
motivation and connections to the real world (Valdez et al., 1995). ). Lowe & William (2004)
states that " with the teacher no longer the overly predominant active reader and responder of
student texts, students, as a community, take more ownership of their writing". However, the
incorporation of technology in language teaching does not take into account the effective
pedagogical approach. According to Schwienhorst ( 1997), "most of the current notions about
the internet and multimedia in the context of language learning often lack the pedagogical
background to make them useful in the context of second language learning.' '

3

3.0 RESEARCH METHODS
The method used for each objective is listed below:
3.1 To implement weblogs in a classroom


Creating a class blog: The collaboration with the staff of the Computer Centre
of the University has enabled a classblog to be created for the purpose of the
study. Students were to log in to the site http:wwwblog2 for the duration of the
semester to blog their entries. 7-10 entries were to be submitted by the end of
the semester. The blog comprises of two columns. One column consists of the
space to write the entries and the recent date and time of blooging. Underneath
the space is stated the category, the name of the blogger, number of comments
and trackbacks. The right column consists of the calendar of the respective
month, categories of entry, the topics of recent posting, archives to store data,
user list and Search icon. The layout of the blog is as shown below:

fiセ@ ...NZ iNセ Nセ セ Mァ R M j

04:05:00 am

LセRzュQ

afd

14 15

the first step is to give yourself time to assimilate the case. you have to have
deep understanding in the given case to succeed. Then, analyze it thoroughly
to look at the development of the organization over time. strategy
management tools is useful to get through this task. the next step, you can
relate the analysis to the task or question given. the conclusion and
recommendation section must be carefully done, have they satisfy all the
task or have the answer all the question given.
Category : Entrv l I Posted By : faizul l Comments(O]

s

7

9

セ@
10

16 17

セ 4- セs'ri6'"'
セ M
11 12
18

u

I 9 20

Fi 2 I

22 23 24 25 26 27
@セ 28 29 30 3 I

-1\i
セ@

M セ@
セ@

M セ@

_.,

S.l!

セ@

·· Categories
Entrv 1

j!

I :;,Trackbacks [0]

-"'
セ@

eョ

エイ ケセ@

[Zセ@

a
セ@

Recent
presenting case study
job seeking
job seeking strategies is the most interesting part because it taught us a lot
about how to research ourself and findout our skills and interest. the main
goal is to satisfy yourself for the employment to get as many job interviews
as possible. in order to succeed, it require us to have a great deal with
planning, initiative, persistenace, hard work, flexibility and good attitude,
this section is the most beneficial for me in the future.

4

recommendation report
writing at workplace
COMMENT FOR ANAS
PRESENTATIONS
MEETING

Category : Entrv 1 I Posted By : faizull セ cッュ・ョエウ{o}@

25 Apr 2007

Iセ
tイ。」ォ「ウ@

[0]

ANALYZING
PRESENTING
STUDY

AND
CASE

JOB
SEEK LNG
STRATEGIES
RECOMMENDATION
REPORT

03:53:31 am

recommendation report compares two or more option against the
requirements listed and then recommend the best option. recommendation
report must be write to accommodate readers need. there are several part in
recommendation
report-introduction
-discussion
-recommendation
-conclusion.
purpose, method, scope and definition must be explain in the introduction.
discussion can be made by comparing pont to point or contrast format. the
rationale section must explain the relationship of the conclusion and to each
other.
Category : Entry 1 I Posted By : faiz ull - Co mments[O]

I セ MG@ Trackback.s [0]

Archives
April2007
March 2007
February 7007
Januarv 2007

I: J!
i.

j

User List
a bid
adibah
alia
anas
engbeng
fadlishah
fahmi
faiz

good morning,
in the first chapter, we've learn on how to write our own sentence by
modifying others. there are three methods to do so. which is;-Synthesizing
-executed by combining separate parts or ideas to form a new sentence. it is
a strategy of combining
several sentences into one and most effectively used in summarizing.

faizul
filzah
hambali

,:'}.. :

hanizah

i

セ@

i

i!
l

peiching

''
'

peifern
shahril

-Paraphrasing
-to write others report in our own words, we have to use this method. the
purpose is to make a sentence
clearer but in the same length as the original. synonyms is th most
significant to use in this method.
all points must be included.

soonlov
voonbin g
wahidahz
wahidahza
waifong
wail on

-summarizing
-is a process of condensing information without changing the original

5

vee ling

: .:, ,
I :;

'

セ@

l

.

meaning. summary is usually
I
75% shorter, sometimes shorter. summarizing needs the technique of careful
reading, and able to
identify the central idea. unnecessary information may be reject in summary. "
Category : Entrv 1 I Posted By : faizul l r Comments[O] I セ tイ。」ォ「
」ォ ウ@ [0]

ft
I

veenseong
zanariah

11

25 Apr RP



M セNZ

N セZS@

M

am

. ;COMMENF'FOR Ali
Hi ..

I Search

So simple your blogging ya .. .Is it you the boys who wrong the format in this
blogging?This is not the frienster boys, this the blog which brings 5% in our
course works ... What ever it is .... Remember that always come to class early
ok ... Anyway thank you for your co-operations in our group in this
class.Good
luck!
bye ..
@
Cateuory : Entrv 1 I Posted By : wahidahza I -:-.comments[O] I セ tイ。」ォ「

-



Syndication
ウ@ l:r1

セ@

123 ...29 30 31 Next
セ@
- lii.:l

llmi·MiM!i\jl
l& liJil'W1¥ml

Template theme : aura
Powered by myBlo